Growing with Jesus

 

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in divine and human favor."  --Luke 2:52

Tucked at the end of second chapter of Luke's gospel , extending from the story of Jesus' birth, is the one account we have of Jesus growing from a child into an adult.  He is twelve years old and accompanies his family on the yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover, the celebration of the Exodus journey of salvation.  The people remembered when God released God's people from slavery to the Egyptians, so that they would be free to follow God's path to the Promised Land and live fully in God's ways. Celebrating Passover was a core expression of their faith. Take time to read and reflect on Luke 2:41-52.

At age 12, Jesus is at the cusp of adulthood in that culture.  This would be a time for him to take on his own faith promises and responsibilities, to become an adult in the faith, not unlike our Confirmands.  When Jesus' family heads back to Nazareth at the end of the festival, he remains behind in Jerusalem.  Mary and Joseph are not immediately aware, assuming that he is travelling in the larger gathering of extended family.    Mary and Joseph return to Jerusalem, searching frantically for him.  "After three days they found him, sitting among the teachers, listening  to them, and asking them questions."  The people around him are said to be amazed at the understandings and perspectives he demonstrates.  In those days the teachers sat and the students stood, so having Jesus sit among them is a sign that, even though he is a student, he offers great wisdom as well.  

His mother is both relieved and furious: "Child, why have you treated us like this?" But Jesus responds, essentially, "Why have you been looking for me for three days?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  This is a powerful moment in the story.  Normally, when someone talked of "the father's house" it meant the family home.  But Jesus is clearly referring to God's Realm.  He may live as Mary and Joseph's son (parents he loves), but ultimately he belongs to God. There is a sense that his own development is taking him beyond where his loving parents have been able to lead him, even if they have done a great job.  His mother, Mary, winds up "treasuring these things in her heart," even though she was angry at first.

Jesus is realizing himself, the depth of his relationship with the divine; he is growing, maturing, "becoming" before our eyes.  (1)  Listening, and (2) asking good questions are two critical skills for us to develop.  Doing them well enables young Jesus to dialogue, to explore the depths of the teachings and apply the lessons learned to everyday life in the world.  His questions lead the conversations into the "deeper waters" of faith life. 

Here are some questions we will work with in your faith journeys:

--How are you claiming your own relationship with God?  In what ways are you committed to your own learning and growing in the Christian faith?  Try to be specific.

--Are there ways in which you see yourself like Jesus (in the story)?  Can you identify with him?

--How are listening and  asking questions an important part of your own journey?

--In what ways would you like to "increase in wisdom and stature, in divine and human favor?"